Two new Diacyclops of the languidoides group are described from ground waters (wells and hyporheic habitats) of Sardinia.
The authors suggest the subdivision of the "languidoides-group as follows: stygophilic and stygoxen species, characterized by well developed exopod on the antenna and remarkable armature on its basibodite; stygobitic species, without exopod and with reduction, or absence, of armature on the basipodite.
Evidence is presented supporting an adaptative (convergent evolution) meaning for the above-mentioned characters in the Cyclopidae family.
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